Research has shown significant increases in the rates of anxiety and depression among children and adolescents worldwide compared to pre‐pandemic levels. When a young person is hurting, it’s never an isolated issue. Stress and conflict impact (and are impacted by) the entire household, including siblings and caregivers. That’s why lasting progress often depends on family involvement.
Family therapy works because it addresses challenges in the context where they often happen: at home and within familial relationships. Sessions may focus on issues ranging from childhood behavioral struggles and adolescent stress to parenting conflicts and communication breakdowns. By involving the whole family, therapy creates space for every member to be heard and equips them with strategies to function better together.
Some models, including ECH’s Family Solutions for Kids, take place right in the home, which can be especially effective. Working in the family’s environment eliminates travel barriers and provides real-time opportunities to practice new approaches, such as:
- Calming a child during a conflict without escalating the situation
- Testing new communication strategies between parents and caregivers
- Reinforcing consistent boundaries in everyday routines
Family therapy isn’t a cure-all, and sometimes children need additional psychological or psychiatric services to address deeper mental health concerns. But it’s an important place to start. Both caregivers and professionals are able to gain a fuller understanding of what a child is experiencing, and families can begin practicing healthier ways of relating to one another while unbiased help is in the room. Those stronger relationships at home often ripple outward, improving how children show up for themselves and in the broader community.